Reversible ax.



ivr rr HARVEY E. COX, 0]? HAINES, OREGON.

REVERSIBLE AX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 38, 1918.

Application filed September 6, 1912. Serial No. 190,073.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY E. COX, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Haines, in the county of Baker and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Reversible Axes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to wood working tools, and has for an object to provide an air or hatchet mounted upon a handle in a manner to permit the blade to be adjusted relative to the handle to facilitate the use of .the tool. j 7 Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character above described comprising few parts, thereby insuring its durability and at the same time permitting the manufacture thereof at a reduced cost.

In addition to the foregoing my invention comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar and correspondingparts are designated by the same characters of reference throughout the several views in which they appear Figure 1, is a view of an improved woodworking tool constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2, is a view thereof showing the blade in edge elevation.

Fig. 3, is a view in perspective of the blade, and

Fig. 4, is a view in perspective of the handle.

With reference to the drawings, 10 indicates the blade which may be of the conventional type, having an intermediate portion 11, which in the conventional form is perforated to receive the handle, in the present instance however, this portion is imperforate. The intermediate portion is formed upon its end opposite the end carrying the blade with a lateral enlargement 12 forming a hammer head which overhangs the blade at one side. The intermediate portion 11 is formed on the side over which the hammer head 12 projects with an enlargement 13. The enlargement 13 is formed on its upper and lower faces with pairs of beveled faces 14, and an opening 15 is formed in the enlargement to extend therethrough and be merged at the apex of the beveled faces in each case, the opening lyin in a plane parallel to the plane of the bla e. The enlargement is furthermore formed upon the same faces which bear the bevel edges with two pairs of beveled faces 16, the faces 16 however being beveled in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel, of the faces 14.

The handle, shown in perspective in Fig. 4 comprises a handle portion proper indicated at 17 which may be formed of wood. A pair of plates 18 are applied to opposite sides of the handle at one end thereof and are secured to the handle by means of rivets or other fastenings 19 which extend through openings in the plate and in the handle. The ends of the plate 19 project beyond the handle and are formed adjacent said ends and upon their adjacent faces with ratchet surfaces 20. The projecting ends of the plates are furthermore apertured as at 21 with the apertures in alinement. In order that the plates may be held more rigidly to the handle against relative movement, the inner faces of the plates may be grooved longitudinally as at 22 to receive the beveled edges of the handle which is disposed between the plates. The plates are of resilient material and are sprung away from each other so as to be readily applied to the blade. To urgethe plates toward each other when desired, a bolt 23 is extended through openings in the plate and in the handle, and a thumb nut 24 is applied to the projecting end of the bolt.

In assembling the parts, the handle is applied to the blade so as to dispose the portion of the enlargement 13 of the blade bearing the beveled faces 14, between the ratchet faces 20 of the plates 18 so as to dispose the opening 15 of the enlargement in alinement with the apertures 21, of the plates 18. A pin 25 may then be inserted through said apertures and one end of the pin seated in a recess 26 formed in the under side of the overhanging hammer head 12 of the blade.

vision of the beveled faces of the handle plates and the beveled formation of the enlargement 13, the blade may be adjusted in many positions relative to the handle, the beveled faces let finding a seat in the many groovesof the ratchet faces 20. The thumb nut 2%- may be loosened preliminary to each adjustment of the blade, and subsequently tightened to more rigidly hold the blade in a projected position. It will also be, apparent that either one of the end portions of the enlargement l3 bearingthebevel'ed faces 16 may be engaged between the ratc'liet'surf ac'esof thehan'dle platewit'hout however, the iise, of the pin 25. The'handle being ,seeu r ed to the, blade in this instance merel by mai ed the binding ac'tionfof the bolt '23 and the thumb nut. This device will be of especial advanta e to all wood workers, thea djustable feature of theblade (permitting its use ,in inany instance's where ,it would be awkward to use a hat'clie'to'f conventionaldesign. I l I I While 1 h ve illustrated invention with sonie de'gree of particularity, I realize that .in practice fva'r'io'u's alterationsthereof may be made, and I therefore desire to reserve the right'a'nd privilegeo'f changing the form hf the details 'of construction .or otherwise'altering the arrangement of the corr elative parts without departing from the appeiided claims. I

A Having thusdes'cribed my invention what ,the spirit of theinvention or the scope of Miles ot tliis iwitent iniiy be obtained for I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A tool including an ax blade, a lug formed upon one side face thereof, a handle, plates secured to the handle to extend beyond the end thereof to engage opposite sides of the lug, means for pivotally c011- i'iectin'g'said plates to the lug whereby the blade may be moved froma position wherein its cutting edge is parallel to the longitudinal center of the handle, to a position wherein the cutting edge is at right angles thereto,an d means for binding the plates together upon the lug. I

2. A tool including an ax blade, having its rear'edge formed with a lateralextension having a recess in inner ra apo1yg01m1 lug formed upon that "side of the ax blade toward which the extension projects, a han- 'dle, lplates secured to the handle to extend therebeyond to engage opposite sides of the lug, a pin penetrating the lug, the terminals of the plates, and entering 'the recess of the efitensio n, means for securing the pins to :one of the plates, and a spring interposed betweenthe extension andthe other plate to no'ri'nally retain said plates in engagement with the lug embraced thereby.

I In testimony whereof 'I 'aflix'my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

. h HARVEY E. COX. Witnesses:

MARY GR NT, CH'A's. L. 'CLAPP.

f ve cehts amt addressin the commissioner a: fiatiifa Washington, 10. G. 

